At rookie minicamp last week, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers addressed the media for the first time since the end of the 2016 season. They discussed some of the returning players on their units as well as some of the free agents Ryan Pace signed. (H. Rick Bamman - hbamman@shawmedia.com)
In Year Two, Leonard Floyd's development will be a big storyline, as he has the potential to be a star for the defense. It'll be about staying healthy, Fangio said. "He’s got a foundation of a year behind him, and he was only available about half the time last year. He had a bunch of those little injuries that interrupted his progress throughout the season. Hopefully with the year under his belt, getting in better shape, better condition, and take off. If he stays healthy, I feel good about him.” (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Fangio was asked for his grade on Floyd: "Incomplete, but he had a nice stretch there. I don’t remember the exact games, maybe it was like Game 9-12 where he was practicing and playing and you could see him coming. Then he got dinged twice in the last two games, or the last four games and it interrupted again. But I feel good about him," he said, adding the following expectation for Floyd when the team begins practicing: "That he reports to camp in great shape — better shape than he was in last year. And that he’s got a great understanding of his position and what’s expected of him. And to really take off during the season." (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
At this time last year, Fangio had high expectations for Eddie Goldman, but his sophomore season was derailed by an ankle injury. Fangio's expectations for Goldman begin with staying healthy. "Eddie only played 15 percent of the plays last year, which is very small so we missed him and he was I think primed to have a good season, so if we can get him back to where he was, and a little bit better, I think we'll have a good player there," he said. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
When it comes to Pernell McPhee, well, a theme has developed. Here's Fangio on the team's leader on 'D': "To get him back to healthy, you know he ended the season with a shoulder, see how well he's moving, physically moving around and hopefully get him back to where he was for like the first six games in that '15 season." (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The Bears didn't get a ton out of Jonathan Bullard during his rookie season, but there is room on the depth chart for him to step up opposite Akiem Hicks and make that Year 2 jump. "Well Jon didn’t play a whole lot last year," Fangio said. "And hopefully he’s ready — you always look for a lot of improvement from Year 1 to Year 2. I think he’s better prepared now to play in the trenches of the NFL than he was last year. He’s gotten a little bit bigger. I think his mentality — he understands more of what’s expected of him playing in the NFL, in the trenches. I don’t think he was quite ready for that last year, both physically or mentally, emotionally I think he’s more ready. We’re hopeful that he does well." (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Fangio confirmed the Bears are going to experiment with Deiondre' Hall at safety. "Well he’s going to do both. We’re going to float him back and forth. He’s had some experience there in college. It comes down to picking your team, and you’re going to pick nine or 10 DBs to make your team, if somebody’s got versatility that can play multiple spots, that helps. So we’re going to see if he’s one of those guys." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Bears didn't get Fangio a safety in the premium rounds of the draft, but they did sign veteran Quintin Demps on the first day of free agency. “It’s always good to have a veteran if he can play his position good," Fangio said. "He had a nice year last year in Houston and hopefully he’ll be able to do some of the same for us this year. But it’s good to have a veteran if the guy’s a commander and a leader back there and we’ll find out if that’s true.”
Upgrades at cornerback happened in free agency, including Marcus Cooper, who Fangio spent brief time with in San Francisco during Cooper's rookie season. "He got a lot of action [in 2016] . [Patrick] Peterson was playing the other side. [Cooper] had to play a lot out there because of injuries so he got a lot of playing time, lot of balls his way. He broke up his fair share of them, got some picks, but he saw a lot of action so he’s battle-tested. Obviously you’re going to get beat some and make some plays, so hopefully he’s ready for his career to take off a little bit.” (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The expected starter opposite Cooper is Prince Amukamara, and Fangio thinks the former first-rounder is also at a good point in his career. “This is his third team in three years, so he’s been around. Thought he played better last year than he had earlier in his career and hopefully he’ll be able to continue that here and maybe play his best. He should be in his prime.” (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Here's Fangio on the Bears' most recent addition to the defense, lineman Jaye Howard: "Well, he's got veteran presence, obviously. He's played in the league, he's had some good days in the league. Hopefully he gets healthy, he comes in here with a great mindset and he can compete and possibly get a starting role in the base and be a rotational guy in the nickel if he proves worthy enough." (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
The Bears re-signed Connor Barth following his first season in Chicago, when he made 18-of-23 field goals. This offseason, Barth will get to work with Rodgers and the special-teams unit for the entire spring and summer as opposed to last year, when he signed prior to Week 1. "It’ll be good for him to have that year under his belt working with those guys," Rodgers said. "Kicked for the most part about what he had in his career. Really accurate guy from 45 and in, and he’s had some kicks, some longer kicks, and that’s kind of been an Achilles’ heel for him. He’s still working through that stuff. Made some kicks in that regard, missed some. Would have finished over 80 percent. Had the play against Washington, that was a protection breakdown on the inside. We expected about what we got out of him minus one or two plays." (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Rodgers will oversee the kickoff-return competition, which will include former Rams running back Benny Cunningham. "He’s got good averages, and he has had production in this league," Cunningham said. "He’s a thicker player. He’s incredibly smart. He’s a hard worker. There’s a lot to like about what he does. And…contact balance would be another thing he does well. He’s a compact player and he’s strong, so generally speaking arm tackles aren’t something that are going to bring him down." (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Fangio, Rodgers analyze returning and new Chicago Bears on defense, special teams
Bears coordinators discussed their personnel with the media at rookie minicamp